Sunday, August 19, 2012

How hot is it? University Bridge must close

It's hot enough in Seattle that transportation officials plan to periodically close the University Bridge Friday to spray it down with water and let it cool.

The bridge will be closed to car traffic about once every hour? so a "flusher truck" can wet down the bridge, the Seattle Department of Transportation reports. Drivers should expect delays.

"This procedure will take up to 10 minutes and will continue while temperatures remain elevated," SDOT announced in a news release.

UPDATE: The bridge will not have to close during the evening rush-hour, SDOT reports. Crews will monitor the bridge Saturday and spray it down if needed.

It was hot Friday, though not as warm as once predicted. Cooler marine air may keep the temperature in Seattle in the upper 80s on Friday and not the 90s that was predicted.

The National Weather Service has canceled the heat warning and posted a heat advisory until 9 p.m.

It will still be warm, of course. So maybe you could cool off while walking across the University Bridge.

Pedestrians and bicyclists will be allowed to cross during the spraying, but should use caution on the wet surface, SDOT reports.

"The purpose of flushing is to cool the structure and minimize expansion. If the two leaves of the bascule portion of the bridge expand too much, they could become inoperable and not able to be opened and closed for marine traffic," SDOT reports.

That happened during a hot spell two years ago, SDOT spokeswoman Marybeth Turner said. But it's the only bridge in town where extreme heat has been a problem, she said.

Source: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/transportation/article/How-hot-is-it-University-Bridge-must-close-3796268.php

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